New India Literacy Programme – Update (March, 2023)

Education is the foundation of a progressive society, and India has recognized the need to improve its literacy rates for economic and social development. The Indian Government has launched a new scheme, the New India Literacy Programme (NILP), to address the issue of adult illiteracy in the country. The scheme is a significant step towards empowering non-literates and enabling them to become self-sufficient. Let’s take a closer look at the scheme and its components.

Financial Outlay and Target Group

The financial outlay of NILP for the five-year implementation period is Rs.1037.90 crore, with Rs.700.00 crore as the Central share and Rs.337.90 crore as the State share. The scheme seeks to educate around 5 crore non-literates in the age group of 15 years and above.

Components of the Scheme

The NILP scheme has 5 components i.e., Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Vocational Skills Development, Basic Education, and Continuing Education. The Foundational Literacy and Numeracy component focus on the basics of reading, writing, and numeracy. The Critical Life Skills component focuses on functional literacy, including digital literacy and financial literacy. The Vocational Skills Development component focuses on imparting job-oriented skills to the beneficiaries. The Basic Education component aims to provide basic education to adults who have missed out on formal education. The Continuing Education component focuses on providing education to those who have completed the basic education component.

Identification of Beneficiaries and Mode of Implementation

Door-to-door surveys are conducted on a mobile app in the States/UTs to identify the beneficiaries of this scheme. The primary mode of implementation for the NILP scheme is the online mode, making it accessible to beneficiaries across the country.

Teaching and Learning Resources

The National Council of Educational Research and Training has developed a curriculum for adult learners that they can master within 200 hours of teaching. The curriculum consists of four books, which cover topics such as reading, writing, arithmetic, and critical life skills. The teaching and learning resources are provided through the DIKSHA platform of NCERT.

Volunteer-Driven Scheme

The NILP scheme is a volunteer-driven scheme that aims to mobilize volunteers across the country to teach non-literates. The scheme aims to train 10 lakh teachers to teach one crore adults.

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2023

Category: Government Schemes Current Affairs • India Nation & States Current Affairs